WNBA FINALS: DREAM VS. VALKYRIES

October 19, 2026

Veronica Burton

Kiah Stokes

Golden State Valkyries

Game 2: Postgame

Atlanta Dream 79, Golden State Valkyries 65

Q. Veronica, the turnovers tonight, the most you've had this season. Obviously Atlanta is good at forcing those but you contained it in Game 1. What happened tonight do you think?

VERONICA BURTON: Yeah, I think we were just a little too loose with the ball. Obviously that's what they are known for and we are known for the opposite. I mean, it starts with me. Like I can't just be throwing the ball. That's one of the most important things is taking care of it.

I think being organized, being on the same page, and on the fast break, not getting too sped up and being decisive. A lot of times we were hesitant or not on the same page and that's what led to turnovers. Starts with me, we'll clean that up and that's what we'll do.

Q. What were the two biggest differences between Game 1 and 2?

KIAH STOKES: Like we just mentioned turnovers was a big one but you could tell that they ramped up their defense. We just have to stay focus, stay locked in. I felt like we had too many lapses on defenses where we knew what to do but we just weren't executing.

Q. Did you notice anything different about Angel's game in this one? I know she wanted to be more aggressive coming out of Game 1.

KIAH STOKES: She definitely was more aggressive. She had a great game and we have to do a better job and that's all around. I felt like we kind of let everyone have their way. So overall we need to be more aggressive offensively.

Q. What was the differentiating factor in the last six minutes of the third quarter, especially given how close that game had been up to that point?

VERONICA BURTON: Again, just turnovers. I genuinely believe that dictated the entire game, when they can get more looks than we do. And then they outhustled us on some plays and they made more energy plays and that's what we hang our hats on. We can't let that happen, especially not in the Finals.

Execution, again, we also shot terribly. We missed shots that we make all the time. That happens and that's where we have to lock in on the defensive end and make it way more difficult, but it's a series for a reason.

Q. Veronica, kind of like what you said, shot quality. I was wondering what you guys thought of the shots you were able to get, like did you feel the process was good, or maybe you were sped up a little bit?

VERONICA BURTON: A little bit of both. At the end of the day I do think we got a lot of good looks that we didn't finish, and it happens, and that's basketball. I do believe at that -- then our body language and then it affects our defense and then it trickles and that was a big part on me. Like you miss a layup and turn it over and by the time you put your head down, they're on the other end and they have a three.

All that little stuff, it does play a role, and again we'll watch the film. They are a great defensive team.

So we have to make the adjustments offensively to execute, and we'll do that. But some of that is just missing shots and then another is, yeah, getting -- getting some better looks.

Q. Veronica, something that came up with Natalie pregame was the difficulty of winning Game 2s, especially in a 7-game series, just like maintaining that same energy once you go up. I guess how would you describe the team's energy in that regard? Was that something you think factored into the lulls today?

VERONICA BURTON: I think we had great energy coming into the game. I think we understood what's at stake and the vibes were high. I believe that we did have good energy. Then on court when things maybe don't go your way, that's when you need to ramp it up even more, and that's probably where we fell short a little bit and that's where the hustle plays, the offensive rebounds, the transition points, like all of that comes into effect. That's where our energy, we need to be able to take a punch and be able to punch back and I don't think we did that tonight.

Q. I think they went to the line 12 times in the third quarter, which was a big difference in scoring and then 35 times for the game. Are there things you can do in Game 3 to try to slow them down from getting to the line so much?

KIAH STOKES: Yeah, don't foul. Yeah, just really just make an effort to keep our hands up. We can't control what the refs call, but we can try to make it clear to not foul but that's on us. We can't be reaching and getting really dumb fouls.

Q. Going into Game 3 on the road, you guys have played in some hostile environments and you've won at Las Vegas. What does it take to go on the road into a place like that and come away with a win?

VERONICA BURTON: It takes composure, and we say that all the time. I believe we are a very composed team and it comes down to sticking together.

It's going to be loud. It's going to be rowdy but that's exciting. This is Finals basketball. That's where we want to be. I'm excited for that.

Yeah, we have to stay together and can't let the crowd be a factor in terms of momentum. If they go on a run, that's when you come together even closer. Communicate with one another. I think again that's where being on the same page will be huge for us.

Q. What makes Angel such a difficult cover? It seems like she uses both hands around the hoop very well. And it seems like in the third quarter, you blocked her shot once or twice, made her pass it out of the post. Do you feel like you turned the corner there, and how did she get back on track?

KIAH STOKES: She does a great job of taking advantage of mismatches. So I was really just trying to stay with her when she started to get going, but she just has a great motor and she works really hard. She makes it difficult not to foul her.

And like you said, she can finish with her right and her left hand. So for me, it's just trying to make her score over me. But she had a great game today. So we really just have to get back to the drawing board today and see what else we can come up with.